Vehicle.



.G. B. AMBLER.

VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 28. 1909.

Patented July 27, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

lwmiw COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON. I). c,

G. B. AMBLER.

VEHICLE.

Patented July 27, 1915.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 28, I909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH :04. WASHINGTON, D. c.

s. B. AMBLER? VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 28, 1909.

Patented July 27, 1915.

4 sums-sneer s.

o O o 0 o 0 G. B. AMBLER.

VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 28. I909. I. Mfifim. Patented July 27', 1915.

. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

i0 0 I H 0 v M V 56 //2 1/ 57 26 /9 2 lmwfimmr- 60013983. flmlaze COLUMBIA I'LANOCIZAI'IX cu, WASHINGTON. n. c.

ivrrnn earns earner nnrbn.

GEORGE IB AMBLER, OF LEOMINSTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO F. A. WHITNEY CARRIAGE 00., OF LEOMINSTER, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHU- SETTS.

VEHICLE.

Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented July 2'7, 1915.

Application filed July as, 1909. Serial No. 509,972.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE B. AMBLER a citizen of the United States, residing at Leominster, lVorcester county, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Vehicles, of which the following de scription, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention pertains to collapsible vehicles and more particularly, as regards the illustrative form herein shown and described, relates to so-called collapsible gocarts.

Among other objects the invention is designed to provide simplicity of structure combined with various improvements in con struction and organization which render the collapsing and erecting mechanism of the vehicle positive and eflicient in action, and provide for maintaining the parts securely in desired position.

The invention may be best understood by reference to a practicable embodiment shown for illustration and explanation in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a vertical section, on a longitudinal median plane, of the illustrative vehicle; Fig. 2 is a similar section showing the vehicle partly collapsed. Fig. 3 is a similar section showing the vehicle wholly collapsed. Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the vehicle viewed from the right in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing one of the wheel-carrying frames partly folded; Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on the line 66 of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a detached perspective of certain parts hereinafter explained. Fig. 8 is a rear elevation similar to Figs. 4 and 5, shmving the vehicle completely collapsed; and Figs. 9 and 10 are enlarged details of certain parts shown in Figs. 4, 5, 7 and 8 and hereinafter more fully referred to.

Referring now to Fig. 1 the illustrative vehicle, of that type usually called a collapsible go-cart comprises a body having parallel sidebars 10 and transverse members 11 and 12 as shown in Fig. 6.

Attached to the longitudinalsidebars 10 of the body are brackets '13, 14c to which are pivoted at 15 the down-turned ends 16, 17 of the wheel-carrying frames 19 conveniently supplied by the running gear springs sition shown in Fig. 4: through the intermediate positionindicated at the left of Fig.

5 to the collapsed position shown in Fig. 8. The wheel-carrying frames with their wheels may be thus folded by mechanical means, as exemplified by the mechanism about to be described.

Referring to Figs. 4; and 5 the downturned end 17 of the wheel-carrying spring or frame 19 at the right, has fixed thereupon a metal stamping having a projecting tappet finger 25, which stands in position to be moved about the pivot 15 by a wheel frame controlling member 26, whereby the wheel frame is folded to a retired position beneath the cart. The relative positions of the controlling member 26 and the tappet finger 25, when the related wheel-carrying frame is erected, is well shownin Fi s. 4, 7 and 10.

Referring now to Fig. F, a controlling member for moving the illustrative tappet finger 25, is shown as a rod 26, pivoted at its extremities to links 28 and 29, depending from the side bar 10 of the body frame. The links 28 and 29 are pivoted to said bar 10, and by this manner of support the rod 26 may be swung rearwardly (toward the right in Fig. 7) and thereby the rod 26 will have a so-called parallel motion bodily toward and from the body frame of the vehicle in a general vertical direction. The illustrative mechanism may be moved to this end by any practicable means.

Referring now to Fig. 10, the illustrative rod 26, as it moves upwardly, strikes the tappet finger and rocks the latter and the wheel-carrying frame to which it is affixed, about the pivot 15 and into the folded position shown in Fig. 8.

lVhenj the controlling. member 26 has reached ,th e uppermost limit. of its travel in folding the wheel frame, said controlling member 26 stands opposite a retaining portion 30 on, the tappet finger 25 (see Figs. 9 and 16) and thereby securely locks the tap pet finger and consequently the wheel-carrying frame in its extreme folded position. At the lowermost extremity of its movement the controlling member 26 occupies the position shown in Fig. 10. It then holds a stop lug 32, carried by the metal stamping of the tappet finger 25, against a rigid pin 33 fixed in the bracket 14, which as already described is rigidly supported by the side bar 10 of the frame.

In the preferred construction illustrated in the drawings, the bracket 14 has at its lower end a hook-shaped seat 34, to'receive the controlling member 26 when its lowermost or'erected position. This hook or seat {34 servesgto set-lire the member 26 against improper lateral flexing and securely holds the member 26 its erected position against a face 35 of the 'tappet finstamping', so that said stamping and the wheel frame are held in erected position determined by the stop lug 32 and pin 33.

As illustrated in 10 the controlling member 26 may serve as a wedge'to be forced {into the hook or'seat 34 thereby to wedgethestamping face ,35 toward the right pressing the stop lug 32agains t the pin 83 and thereupon tensioning' the parts and maintaining them under tension so as to fconstitutethem substantially rigid one with another; Likewise the hook or seat 34 prevents the wheel frame from flexing inwardly (toward the left in Figs. 4 and 10), while the stop lug '32 secures the wheel frame against flexingjin the opposite direction.

To contribute to the modeof operation just explained'the face 35 of the stamping is preferably s related to the stop lug 32, that it serves as a cam down which thecontrolling member 26is forced in erecting the wheel frame with the effect of forcing the entire stamping in a 'contraclockwise direction about itspivot 15 and thereby pressing the stop lug 8'2 into firm engagement with the pin 33. i

The exemplary mechanism shown at the right of Figs. 4, 5 and 7 and in Fig. 10, may be substantially duplicated at the left in 'Figs'. 4, 5 and 8. The corresponding parts at the left in said figures are shown in enlarged detail in Fig. 9. There are shown a tappet finger 40, a parallel motion controlling member 42 and a hook or s'eat 44. The finger 40 and its attached parts including the" wheel-carrying frame, 'are folded by moving the same contraclockwise about the pivot 15. A stop lug 46 in Fig. 9 answers the'same purpose as the stop lug 32 of Fig. 10. To hold these various parts firmly in position and preferably under tension, the stamping forfthe tappet finger 40 is providedwith a cam face 45, acted upon by the controlling member 42 with a coeperative result similar to that described in connection with the member 26 and cam face 35 as shown in Fig. 10.

In order that the respective wheelcarrying'frames may be folded successively without interfering one with the other, it is desirable that the movement of one wheel frame begin at some stage earlier than that of the other or else proceed more rapidly than that of the other. For instance, in the illustrative vehicle it is provided that the wheel-carrying frame on the left in Figs. 4, 5 and 8, shall be folded in advance of'the frame on the right. This may be accomplished by causing the initial cooperation. between the tappet finger 40 and contr oliing-member 42, to precede more or less that oi the tappet finger 25 and controlling meniber26; for inst ance, as in the illustrative'inechanisin, the position of the tappct finger-40' is nearertothemember 42, than is the .finger 25 to the member 26. The effect of this arrangement is well illustrated in Fig.5, in which the wheel frame on the left is shown duringits' initial folding movoinent preceding that of the wheel frame on the right.

The controlling member 42 for the wheel frame at-the left of the vehicle in Figs. 4, 5, andS, dep'ends from links 47, 48 (Fig. 6) similar tothe links 28, 29 of Figs. 1 and 7. These links are pivoted to a side member 10 of the body frame, thereby providing for bodily parallel motion of the controlling member'42 likethat of the controlling member 26' already explained.

To contribute to the stiffness of the vehicle and as an additional brace for the parts and to hold tlie'wheel frames in erected position, the controlling members 26 and 42, may be connected by a cross member 50. For instance the two controlling members 26 42, together with the cross piece 50, may be formed integrally from a steel bar bentto a U-shape and suspended as a substantially unitary frame by the links 28, 29 and 47, 48, so that the frame as a whole shall have aparallelmotion toward and from the body frame of the vehicle. It is preferred that the cross-piece 50 extend from side to side of the vehicle proximate the downturned ends 17 of the wheel springs or frames 19, whereby the cross piece 50 may serve as a strut interposed between the controlling inemb'ers 26 and 42 and between the respective wheel frames, whereby the latter are securely braced in erected position. In thisparticular the office of the cross-piece 50 may supplement, or may be substituted for, that of the hooks or seats 34 and 44.

"Referring now to Figs. 9 and 10, it will appear that the controlling members 26 and 42 being firmly braced by the cross member 50, the U-shapedc ontrolling frame comprising these three members 26, 42 and 50 may serve as a unitary wedge between the cam to these ends 16.

faces 35 and 45 on. the respective wheel frames, so that the latter shall be wedged apart during the downward erecting move ment of the controlling members 26 and 12, to force the wheel frames into erected position and hold them therein under tension, as already explained.

The bracing effect of the described mechanism is preferably applied in the vicinity of one of the pairs of opposite wheels. For instance, as shown in Fig. 1, the down turned end 17 of the side frame, upon which the bracing action of the erecting mechanism is exerted, is substantially coincident with the vertical plane of the axles of the rear wheels. Accordingly, the wheels themselves are substantially directly braced. It is desirable that the front wheelsbe also braced.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 7 the downturned end 16 of the wheel frame is substantially coincident with the vertical plane of the axles of the front wheels and it is preferred to apply a substantial bracing action For this purpose, the bracket 1.3 may have a hook or seat 52 similar to the hook or seat 34: at the rear, to re ceive a controlling member 56 supported by the link 29 and another link 57. The wheel frame at the left of the vehicle as shown in Fig. 6, has a corresponding controlling member 60 supported by the link 48 and a link 7 2. The controlling members 56 and 60 may be connected by a cross-piece 74:, which, as in the case of the corresponding parts at the rear of the vehicle, may be formed by a U-shaped bar. Fixed to the ends 16 of the respective wheel frames, (Fig. 7 there may be stampings 76 exactly corresponding to the stampings of the 'tappet fingers 30, 4-0

but omitting, if desired, the tappet fingers themselves, though preferably retaining stop lugs 32 and the cam faces 35 and 15 to cooperate with the controlling members 56 and 60 in the manner described with reference to the controlling members and cam faces at the rear of the vehicle.

The folding and erecting or controlling mechanism for the wheel frames hereinbefore described for illustration, may be operated in any practicable manner. For instance, the cross members 50 and 74-. or either of them may serve conveniently as handles bv which to manipulate the immediate controlling members. It is preferred, however, that the controlling mechanism for the collapsible running gear be connected for conjoint operation with collapsible arts of the superstructure, as, for instance, with pivoted handle bars. This is exemplified by the arrangement shown in Fig. 1 in which the link 29 is supplied by part of a lever 80 connected by a link 81, with a handle bar 82, which is pivoted to the body frame of the vehicle at 83. In like manner the link at the opposite side of the vehicle may be a art of a lever 84., (see Fig. 4;) exactly like the lever 80 and connected also to the handle bars. i Vith this arrangement (see Fig. 1) the handle bars may be swung toward the left, thereby rocking the levers 80 and 84: contraclockwise, forcing the controlling members 26 and 42 toward the right and lifting them bodily with the result explained. The lever 80 and link 81, and the corresponding parts at the opposite side of the vehicle, may supply elements of the superstructure, as the uprights and arms flanking the seat.

It is desirable to provide simple and efiective means to lock the parts of the vehicle in erected or collapsed position or both, and the accompanying drawings show an illustrative form of locking means acting conveniently upon the link 29 (Fig. 1) at one side of the vehicle and upon the correspond ing link 18 at the other side.

The specific locking means is well shown in Figs. 1, 6 and 7. Referring to Fig. l the locking means comprises a lever 90 pivoted at 92 to a side frame member 10, and having connected to its free end a coil spring 94 depending from a side member 10. The coil spring 94 tends constantly to rock the lever 90 contra-clockwise. On the opposite side of the vehicle from the lever 90 is shown a companion lever 96 pivoted to the frame at 98 and having a spring 94. The levers 90 and 96, as shown, are formed integrally as arms of a yoke having a cross piece 102. This cross piece supplies a convenient carrying handle for the vehicle when 001- lapsed, and to suit this purpose it may be provided with a handle 103.

Each lever 90 and 96 has a. lock seat 10 i 105, any tendency of the link 29 to rock out of its locked position will be opposed by the lever 90 in a direction substantially lengthwise the latter. This is readily understood from Fig. 7, the effect being to give a very stiff brace and support to the link 29 which is applied thereto at some distance from the pivot of the lever 29, whereby a substantial leverage is obtained. This locking provision is highly effective and serves to hold the parts rigidly in erected position.

In order to lock the parts in collapsed position, if desired, an arm 107 may be riveted upon the lever 80 and provided with a locking pin 109 positioned to engage the lock seat 104 of the lever 90, when the lever 80 and its arm 10? are in fully collapsed position. This is well illustrated in Fig. 3. In the illustrative form shown in the drawings, the locking levers 90 and 96 can be readily disengaged from the locking pins by merely 112 or their equivalent.

moving the handle part 103 slightly clockwise in Figs. land 3, against the tension of the spring 94:. At intermediate stages between erected and collapsed positions, the locking pin 109 (Fig. 2) may ride down a proximate face of the lever 90 until it arrives opposite the seat 10a when the latter will be forced into engagement with the pin by the spring 94.

The described locking mechanism in its cooperation with the illustrative collapsible parts, serves not only to lock the running gear in both erected and collapsed positions, but also performs a like office for the collapsible parts of the superstructure connected directly or indirectly with the link 29.

Referring to Fig. 1, the illustrative seat 110 is mounted upon one end of a spring 112 which is preferably in the form shown and extends a substantial distance fromthe seat to a pivot 111by which the spring. is connected to the frame. The spring. 112 shown in Fig. 1 may be duplicated as shown in Fig. 6, each spring preferably supporting the seat near one of'its sides.

The seat is preferably rigidly fixed upon one end of the spring, and with'this arrangement the spring and seat together constitute a movable yielding frame pivotedat 114.. This frame may be supported in erected position by any practicable means as for instance by a seat-erecting bar 116 extending between and secured to the levers and sat. Referring to Fig. 7, the seat-erecting bar 116 may be conveniently supplied as across bar integrally connecting the corresponding arms 107 which are fixed upon the levers 80 and 84: respectively.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the seat-erecting bar 116, when in erected pos'r ti'on, serves substantially as a fulcrum upon which the spring 112 rests, the spring being permitted practically free flexing throughout its length. This supplies an excellent cushioning support for the seat. As the bar 116 approaches collapsed position (Fig. 2) it permits the seat frame 112 to rock clockwise about the pivot 114 and to retreat downwardly toward the wholly collapsed position shown in Fig. 3 in which a large part of the seat frame lies between the side members of the frame. It is obvious that this described movement of the seat frame accompanies collapsing and erecting of other parts of the superstructure and also of the running gear, all such movements being controlled if desired by movement of the handle bars 82 as illustrated in the drawings. Preferably the seat is not directly supported nor sustained except by springs The seat may be provided with any practicable sort of back, as for instance, a back 125 pivotally supported upon the seat 110 or directly upon some part of the seat frame. When so sup ported the back may partake of the yielding movement of the seat on its cushioning support.

It is preferred to sustain the back in erected position by means of some part which also is yieldable with the seat frame; instead of sustaining the back substantially unyieldingly, as by links connected to the handle bars or some other comparatively rigid part of the frame. For this purpose the seat 110 or other part of the yielding frame may have a bracket 118 supporting a pivoted dog 119. The latter has a toe provided with a stop 122 adapted to rest against part of the bracket 118 and limit clockwise movement (Fig. 1) of the dog 119. The back 125 may be supported by said dog 119 through the interposed strut 128 pivotally connected to the dog. To permit the back various inclinations in respect to the seat; the strut 128 may be adjustable in a guard 126, in the well known manner.

It will be observed in Fig. 1 that the specific dog 119 and its step 122 effectively support the back 125 against movement toward the right, and at the same time leave the back free to yield with the cushioning movement of the seat frame. Preferably all of the supporting parts for the back are sustained directly or indirectly by the yielding seat frame. The dog 119 and connected parts are conveniently so arranged as to permit the back 125 to move toward the left in Fig. 1 into a retired position substantially against the seat 110. The back may thus be moved during the general collapsing of the vehicle by means of the link 120 pivoted to the handle bar 82, said link having a slot which embraces the extended pin forming the pivotal connection between the dog 119 and the link 128. When erected,

said pin is preferably remote from either end of the slot in link 120, and the back is thereby permitted to have free yielding movement without substantial obstruction. lVhen, however, the handle bar 82 is rocked toward the left in collapsing the vehicle, the right hand end of the slot in the link 120 strikes the pin of the dog 119 and moves the same toward the left, thereby, through the strut 128, rocking the back 125 contra-clockwise into the position shown in Fig. 2, or permitting it to fall into that position by gravity. Continued movement of the handle bar 82 brings the slot of the link 120 into the position shown in Fig. 3 in which the then upper end of said. slot bears against the pin of the dog 119, holds said pin depressed and thereby holds the yoke 128 and back 125 in collapsed position, the back being thus firmly folded against the seat to prevent rattling and partial erection.

In order to provide sides for the seat 110, curtains 130 may depend from the side links 81, as by being secured to the rods 132 on the side links. Preferably the forward edge of each curtain 130 is secured by rivets or the like to the levers 80. Being so mounted, the side curtains 130 are collapsed and erected, as will be apparent, together with the described superstructure. It is desirable that when erected the side curtains 130 be held smoothly in proper position and be stiffened more or less to provide more substantial support at the sides of the seat than would be afforded by the leather or other flexible material of which such curtains are ordinarily made. For this purpose a curtain supporting link 134 may be pivoted to a side lever 80 (and also duplicated at the opposite side of the vehicle for the other curtain) the opposite end of the link being riveted or otherwise secured to the lower rear corner of the curtain at 135 (see Fig. 1). With this described construction, the link 134 partakes of the collapsing and erecting movements of the lever 80 and in doing so guides the curtain, and when erected, contributes to stifien it.

To govern the movement of the link 134, the same may be connected, for instance at its lower end as shown in Fig. 1, to a guide link 136 pivoted to the handle bar 82 at 137. When the handle bar 82 is moved contraclockwise, as in Fig. 2, the cooperation of the links 134 and 136 may hold the rear lower corner of the curtain 130 in a convenient position intermediate the upper rear corner and lower front corner so as to cause a compact and easy folding of the curtain, as it collapses. When fully collapsed, as shown in Fig. 3, the links 134 and 136 hold the curtain folded and confine it against improper escape. During the erecting movement from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 1, the links 134 and 136 cooperate to straighten and stretch the curtain 130 and to hold it smoothly in place and also to stiffen it.

The vehicle may be provided with a top or canopy 140 of any practicable design. For illustration, Fig. 1 shows a top having togglo braces 142, and pivotally mounted at 143 on a bracket 144 provided with any practicable clamping means secured to the horizontal portion of the side link 81. These parts at one side of the vehicle may be duplicated at the other side. Ihe. clamp bracket 144 is preferably adjustable to any desired position along the length of the side link 81 permitting the top to be moved forwardly or rearwardly. The pivotal support of the top on the brackets 144 permits the top to be swung forwardly or rearwardly, a preferred position for ordinary use being shown in Fig. 1. When the toggle brace 142 is broken, the top may be collapsed in the well lcoown manner and'folded down toward the side links 81. When the vehicle is collapsed thetop so folded will accompany the side links 81 in their collapsing movement and will finally assume the position shown in Fig. 3 where said top will lie compactly against the other collapsed parts of the vehicle.

As described, all of the collapsible parts of the vehicle are controlled and locked in collapsed and erected position more or less directly by the locking levers 90 cooperating with the locking pins 105 and 109. While this locking feature is highly efficient in contributing to hold the parts in desired position, it is practicable to make further provision for holding the vehicle collapsed. Such further provision may serve to insure against erection, those parts which are more or less remotely controlled by the described. feature, and also to assist and cooperate with the latter and relieve it of part of the strain that otherwise it would have to sustain. This additional provision for locking the parts in collapsed position is exemplified by the arrangement about to be described.

In the illustrative construction, each side link 81 and its adjacent handle bar 82, constitute together a toggle having its elbow at the pivot 150 (Fig. 1) by which the link is connected to the handle bar, and having its extremities respectively at the fulcrum 83 of the handle bar and the pivot 152 by which the side link 81 is connected to the lever 80. During the collapsing movement, from the position shown in Fig. l to that shown in Fig. 2, this toggle reaches alinement or dead-center position before thp parts are fully collapsed, and thereafter passes beyond dead-center, whereby the elbow is again broken when the parts are wholly collapsed.

Each side link 81, or some other part in or connected with this toggle system, is preferably formed as a spring or resilient member such that the toggle system as a whole resists being alined, so that when the toggle passes dead-center the yielding element of the system, by its resiliency, will hold the toggle broken past dead-center. For instance, (Fig. 2) a side member 81 may be formed with a spring bow 55 and if desired a further undulation or bow. 56. In the illustrative construction, the link 81 with its parts 55 and 56 is so proportioned in relation to the length of handle bar intervening be tween the fulcrum 83 and pivot 150, that the link 81 must be substantially compressed endwise as the described toggle approaches alinement. By reason of this endwise compression, the link 81 exercises a substantial endwise thrust tending to break the toggle after it passes dead-center and to hold the parts in fully collapsed position shown in Fig. 3. It will be observed in Fig. 3 that the pivot 150 constituting the elbow of the toggle, lies below a line connecting the fulcrum 83 to the pivot 152 which are respectively 1 theextremities of the toggle; Thus the toggle is broken .past its dead-center and re.- quires,.to1 erect the vehicle, a substantial force not likely to be applied accidentally, to re-aline the toggle against the described thrust of the side link 81.

' Since. the describedautomatic toggle arrangement contributes. .to lock the handle bars, lever SOand other parts in collapsed position, it-serves. also to hold all connected parts in.collapsedupositiom While this toggle mechanism and the locking levers 90 and associated parts, may be. used separately, either beingcapable ofv performing an effective-locking oflice without the other, it is preferred thatthey each .be usedcon-jointly as in .the illustrative vehicle shown in the drawings. ,1 f The forwardaendof the vehicle. may .be provided with any practicable form of foot rest not shown) which. may be supported if desired from-the cross member 11 of the frame already referredto.

alt is to-be..understood that the specific mechanism hereinbefore. described has been disclosed merely for. purposes of. illustratio n; jand thev scopeof the invention is by no means, limited thereto... On the. contrary thespecific illustrative .mechanism is susceptible-pf. Wide Variation by omission, additiiQIl and, substitution, as will appear to those skilled in theart, all within the proper scope Qfithfi subjoined claims. It .is not indispensable that, all of the features of the invention beused conjointly since they may be usedseparately to advantage.

C1aims::..., V

1. A vehicle of the character described comprising,.incombination, a body; foldable wheel-carrying means at each side of theHbody; Iandea frame movable in a substantially straight path having provision for interposing .the samebetween thefoldable wheel-carrying members to erect and hold them in erected position A vehicle of the character described comprising, in combination, a body; foldable Hwheelacarrying means for the four wheels of the, vehicle; a bodily movable frame-having. a portion acting at the front wheels and a portion acting atthe rear wheels forvv erecting and holdingsaid wheel carrying means .in erected position; and

means connecting the frame tothe body.

.3...A:. vehicle, of the character described comprising, in combination, .a body; foldable wheel-carryingmeans at each side of the ,body.; a bodily, movable controlling frame having-provision for erecting and mutually bracing the. wheel-carrying members; and.g,f0ldable means connecting "the frameto the body having provision for permitting adjustment of said frame toward nd'lfrom said bod 4.,A- vehicle of the character described comprising, in combination, a body; foldable wheel-carrying means at each side of the body; a bodily movable controlling frame, having a plurality of transverse braces, having provision for erecting and holding erect the wheel-carrying members; and supporting means for the frame having provision permitting the latter to be collapsed toward the body.

5. .A vehicle of the character described comprising, in combination, a body; foldable wheel-carrying means connected to the body; and double rocking lever and a frame connecting the same and acting on and bracing the wheel-carrying means at remotely separated parts thereof for erecting and holding erect said wheel carrying means.

6. A vehicle of the character described comprising, in combination, a body; foldablewheel-carrying means connected to the body; and double rocking lever controlling means acting upon the wheel-carrying means proximate each of the rear wheels and the front wheels for erecting and holding erect said wheel carrying means.

7. A vehicle of the character described comprising, in combination, a body; foldable wheel-carrying means connected to the body; a plurality of links pivoted to the body; controlling means connecting the links and having a plurality of transverse braces;

mate the forward and the rear wheels.

9. A vehicle of the character described comprising, in combination, a body; foldable wheel-carrying means connected to the body, and carrying front and rear wheels; a plurality of links pivoted to the body: controlling means for the wheel carrying means connecting the links; and means rigid with the body to engage the controlling means, when in erected position, at separated points along the length thereof.

10. A vehicle of the character described comprising, in combination, a body; foldable wheel-carrying means connected to the body, and carrying front and rear wheels; a plurality of links pivoted to. the body; controlling means connecting the links; and a plurality of seats attached to the body to receive each controlling means when in erected position. 19A vehielel fthe character lOO comprising, in combination, a body; foldable wheel-carrying means on each side of the body; and an integral four sided controlling frame for the wheel-carrying means movable in substantial parallelism with the body.

12. A vehicle of the'character described comprising, in combination, a body: a movable handle for the vehicle; foldable wheelcarrying means at opposite sides of the body; and a handle-operated bracing frame having provision for erecting and holding erect the opposite wheel-carrying means.

13. A vehicle of the character described comprising, in combination, a body; a movable handle therefor; foldable wheel-carrying means at opposite sides of the body; and handle operated means having provision for erecting and mutually bracing, at a plurality of points, the opposite wheel-carrying means and movable bodily toward and from the bodv.

14. A vehicle of the character described comprising, in combination, a body; foldable wheel-carrying means; and controlling means including alined members for the latter extending lengthwise the wheel-carrying means, and a plurality of transverse members.

15. A vehicle of the character described comprising, in combination, a body; foldable wheel-carrying means; and controlling means for the wheel-carrying means including members on the opposite sides of the body and extending lengthwise thereof and a plurality of transverse members.

16. A vehicle of the character described comprising, in combination, a body; foldable wheel-carrying means on opposite sides of the body; controlling members 26 and 42 for the respective wheel-carrying means; connecting means 50 between said controlling means; and cams 35 and 45 on the respective wheel-carrying means.

17. A vehicle of the character described comprising, in combination, a body; fol dable wheel-carrying means on opposite sides of the body; controlling members 26 and 42 for the respective wheel-carrying means; connecting means 50 between said controlling means; and seats 34: and A4 for the respective controlling means.

18. A vehicle of the character described comprising, in combination, a body; foldable wheel-carrying means; controlling means comprising bars extending longitudinally of said body, a plurality of means joining said bars at different points along their lengths, and means to support said bars.

19. A vehicle of the character described comprising, in combination, a body; foldable wheel-carrying means; and a controlling member for the wheel-carrying means having provision forwedging the same between said wheel-carrying means to erect and hold the latter in erected position.

20. A vehicle of the character described comprising, in combination, a body; a foldable wheel-carrying member at each side of the body, having a front and a rear wheel thereon; a plurality of links pivoted on the bodyvto move in a plane transverse to the direction of folding movement of the wheelcarrying members; a quadrilateral frame for controlling both the wheel-carrying members, supported by said links and movable bodily toward and from the body and in substantial parallelism therewith; a tappet finger on each wheel-carrying member to engage said controlling frame; opposed cam faces on the respective opposite wheel-carrying members, proximate both the front and the rear wheels, said cam faces being arranged to have the controlling frame forcibly interposed between them after the manner of a wedge; stop means to limit movement of the wheel-carrying members by the controlling frame; handle means pivoted on the body; and means connecting the handle means and one of said plurality of links for conj oint movement.

21. A vehicle of the character described comprising, in combination, a body; a foldable wheel-carrying member at each side of the body; having a front and a rear wheel thereon; a plurality of links pivoted on the body to move in a plane transverse to the direction of folding movement of the wheelcarrying member; a frame for controlling both the wheel-carrying members, supported by said links and movable bodily toward and from, and in substantial parallelism with, the body; means on each wheel-carrying member to engage said controlling frame; opposed cam faces on the respective opposite wheel-carrying members, arranged to have the controlling frame forcibly interposed between them after the manner of a wedge; and means to limit movement of the wheel-carrying members by the controlling frame.

22. A vehicle of the character described comprising, in combination, a body; a foldable wheel-carrying member at each side of the body, having a front and a rear wheel thereon; a plurality of links pivoted on the body; a frame for controlling both the wheel-carrying members, supported by said links movable bodily toward and from the body; and opposed cam faces on the respective opposite wheel-carrying members, arranged to have the controlling frame forcibly interposed between them after the manner of a Wedge.

23. A vehicle of the character described comprising, in combination, a body; a foldable wheel-carrying member at each side of the body; a frame for controlling both the wheel-carrying members, movable bodily toward and from, and in substantial parallelism with, the body; and opposed cam faces on the respective opposite wheel-carrying members, arranged to have the controlling frame forciblyinterposed between them after the manner of a wedge.

24.'A vehicle of the character described comprising, in combination, a body; a fold able wheel-carrying member at each side of the body; parallel-motion means for controlling both the wheel-carrying members; and opposed cam faces on the respective opposite wheel-carrying members arranged to have the controlling means forcibly interposed between them after the manner of a wedge.

25. A vehicle of the character described comprising, in combination, a body; a foldable wheel-carrying member at each side of the body; vertically.disposed, opposed cam faces on the respective opposite wheel-carrying members; and double rocking lever controlling meansarranged to be interposed between the cam faces tending to force them apart.

26. A vehicle of the character described comprising, in combination, a body; a foldable wheelcarrying member at each side of the body; and a quadrilateral frame for controlling both the wheel-carrying members movable bodily toward and from, and in substantial parallelism with, the body.

27. A vehicle of the character described comprising, in combination, a body; a foldable wheel carrying member at each side of the bod y, having a 'frontand a rear Wheel thereon; a combined folding and bracing member for each of the opposite pairs of Wheels, interposed between the wheel-carrying members, each of said members being in substantially the vertical axial plane of its related pair of opposite wheels; and movable means to support the said folding and bracing means.

28. A vehicle of the character described comprising,.in combination, a body; a fold able wheel-carrying member at each side of the body, having a front and a rear wheel thereon, a combined folding and bracing member acting upon the wheelcarrying members in substantially the vertical axial plane of the rear wheels; and an additional combined folding and bracing member acting upon the wheel-carrying members in substantially the vertical axial plane of the front wheel.

29. A vehicle of the character described comprising, in combination, a body; a foldable wheel-carrying member at each side of the body having a front and a rear wheel thereon; and means for controlling both of the wheel-carrying members including a frame having provision permitting the forcible interposition of the same between said wheel-carrying members after the manner of a wedge.

30. A vehicle of the character described comprising, in combination, a body; a foldable wheel-carrying member at each side of the body; and means for controlling both the wheelcarrying members including a member movable toward and from the body and having provision for engagement with opposed cam faces on the respective opposite wheel-carrying members for forcibly spreading the same after the manner of a wedgeto hold them in erected position.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' GEORGE B. AMBLER.

Witnesses FRED A. RUssnLL, LENA N. WALKER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, I). C. 

